Patents by Inventor Kenneth R. Milligan

Kenneth R. Milligan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11780059
    Abstract: A fully parametric profile for improved tooling in a tool/fastener system is provided that details a profile from a single proved Wright number, and that improves the contact area across a full spectrum of industry standard tolerances, while preserving safe pockets for fastener corners, thereby providing for increased tool life. The tool profile is based on a central axis and a parametric set of coordinates for flats, transition points, and multiple radii. The profile mates selectively with a set of fasteners having a central axis and a plurality of flat bounding surfaces parallel to the fastener access wherein diametrically opposite pairs of surfaces are parallel to each other and the bounding surfaces intersect in adjacent pairs to form fastener corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor
  • Patent number: 11219985
    Abstract: An open-end hexagonal wrench having opposing jaws extending forwardly from a handle, the respective jaws having forwardly disposed, opposing planar faces, the forwardly disposed planar faces respectively merging with outwardly curved diverging surfaces with protrusions for penetrating the side of a hexagonal fastener being turned without engaging a corner of the fastener. The rearward ends of the outwardly curved diverging surfaces respectively merging with rear, concave arcuate corners which in turn merge with gentle curves into a concave throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: WrightTool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20200230786
    Abstract: A fully parametric profile for improved tooling in a tool/fastener system is provided that details a profile from a single proved Wright number, and that improves the contact area across a full spectrum of industry standard tolerances, while preserving safe pockets for fastener corners, thereby providing for increased tool life. The tool profile is based on a central axis and a parametric set of coordinates for flats, transition points, and multiple radii. The profile mates selectively with a set of fasteners having a central axis and a plurality of flat bounding surfaces parallel to the fastener access wherein diametrically opposite pairs of surfaces are parallel to each other and the bounding surfaces intersect in adjacent pairs to form fastener corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10442059
    Abstract: An improved socket having a drive end opening being so dimensioned for receiving a drive anvil, the opening comprising a plurality of bounding surfaces parallel to a central axis and being disposed in diametrically opposed pairs about the axis, where the diametrically opposed pairs of bounding surfaces include: at least two pairs of flat side surfaces being parallel to each other about the central axis; at least two pairs of curved recess surfaces forming respective inner corners of the drive end opening; and adjacent pairs of outwardly diverging transition surfaces transitioning between respectively adjacent pairs of the flat side surfaces and the curved recess surfaces. The improved socket increases corner radius for minimizing stress concentration at the corners and provides outwardly diverging transition surfaces for relocating the areas of maximum stress away from the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190134787
    Abstract: An open-end hexagonal wrench having opposing jaws extending forwardly from a handle, the respective jaws having forwardly disposed, opposing planar faces, the forwardly disposed planar faces respectively merging with outwardly curved diverging surfaces with protrusions for penetrating the side of a hexagonal fastener being turned without engaging a corner of the fastener. The rearward ends of the outwardly curved diverging surfaces respectively merging with rear, concave arcuate corners which in turn merge with gentle curves into a concave throat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140260825
    Abstract: An improved socket having a drive end opening being so dimensioned for receiving a drive anvil, the opening comprising a plurality of bounding surfaces parallel to a central axis and being disposed in diametrically opposed pairs about the axis, where the diametrically opposed pairs of bounding surfaces include: at least two pairs of flat side surfaces being parallel to each other about the central axis; at least two pairs of curved recess surfaces forming respective inner corners of the drive end opening; and adjacent pairs of outwardly diverging transition surfaces transitioning between respectively adjacent pairs of the flat side surfaces and the curved recess surfaces. The improved socket increases corner radius for minimizing stress concentration at the corners and provides outwardly diverging transition surfaces for relocating the areas of maximum stress away from the corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140196578
    Abstract: A socket for a turn-of-nut torque application includes at least one visual indicator for indicating a turn-of-nut position. In a preferred embodiment, a visual indicator is precisely machined into the exterior surface of the elongated body portion of the socket. The visual indicator may correspond with an interior corner of the nut end recess. Several visual indicators may be provided, and each visual indicator may correspond with a different interior corner of the nut end recess. The visual indicator may further comprise a permanent paint, and each additional visual indicator may comprise a different colored permanent paint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Wayne Snyder
  • Patent number: 7841261
    Abstract: The present invention is a lightweight impact socket having an aluminum or other light metal blank having a fastener end and a drive end. A high strength, heat-treated steel alloy insert is inserted into the fastener end of the blank and glued in place to yield a highly effective impact socket. A drive end insert can be inserted into the bore at the drive end to add strength to the drive end of the impact socket. A high strength, heat-treated steel alloy sleeve can be adhered to the outside of the lightweight blank to add further strength to the drive end of the impact socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry Taylor, Gregory W. Helbling, Wayne Snyder
  • Patent number: 7788994
    Abstract: A symmetrical open-end wrench having rear side corners adjacent open ends of the throat of the wrench and opposing jaws defining an opening for receiving a fastener, the jaws having parallel planar section, and continuously diverging surfaces with fastener-engaging irregularities merging with the respective rear side corners in a smooth transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Publication number: 20090064825
    Abstract: The present invention is a lightweight impact socket having an aluminum or other light metal blank having a fastener end and a drive end. A high strength, heat-treated steel alloy insert is inserted into the fastener end of the blank and glued in place to yield a highly effective impact socket. A drive end insert can be inserted into the bore at the drive end to add strength to the drive end of the impact socket. A high strength, heat-treated steel alloy sleeve can be adhered to the outside of the lightweight blank to add further strength to the drive end of the impact socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry Taylor, Gregory W. Helbling, Wayne Snyder
  • Publication number: 20080156150
    Abstract: A symmetrical open-end wrench having rear side corners adjacent open ends of the throat of the wrench and opposing jaws defining an opening for receiving a fastener, the jaws having parallel planar section, and continuously diverging surfaces with fastener-engaging irregularities merging with the respective rear side corners in a smooth transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Patent number: 7340982
    Abstract: Open-end symmetrical wrenches retain fasteners fully seated in the jaws of the wrench. The jaws have fastener-engaging surfaces with substantially planar and parallel sections that extend past the front side corners of the fastener when it is fully seated in the wrench and serrated diverging sections extending outwardly and rearwardly from these planar sections. The serrated diverging section may be arcuate or a slightly inclined. Both types of diverging section are designed to reduce slipping and are connected to rear corners of the fastener-engaging cavity that are designed and positioned to avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener. Arcuate rear side corners of the wrench cavity avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener and avoid stress concentration points. The throat that connects the corners has two gentle curves or flat surfaces leading to a central arc. This modified ā€œUā€ design provides more metal in the throat of the wrench, which stiffens the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Patent number: 6907805
    Abstract: Open-end symmetrical wrenches retain fasteners fully seated in the jaws of the wrench. The jaws have fastener-engaging surfaces with substantially planar and parallel sections that extend past the front side corners of the fastener when it is fully seated in the wrench and serrated diverging sections extending outwardly and rearwardly from these planar sections. The serrated diverging section may be arcuate or a slightly inclined. Both types of diverging section are designed to reduce slipping and are connected to rear corners of the fastener-engaging cavity that are designed and positioned to avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener. Arcuate rear side corners of the wrench cavity avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener and avoid stress concentration points. The throat that connects the corners has two gentle curves or flat surfaces leading to a central arc. This modified ā€œUā€ design provides more metal in the throat of the wrench, which stiffens the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Publication number: 20040016323
    Abstract: Open wrenches retain fasteners fully seated in the jaws of the wrench. The jaws have fastener-engaging surfaces with substantially planar and parallel sections that extend past the front side corners of the fastener when it is fully seated in the wrench, and serrated diverging sections extending outwardly and rearwardly from these planar sections. The serrated diverging section may be arcuate or a slightly inclined. Both types of diverging section are designed to reduce slipping, and are connected to rear corners of the fastener-engaging cavity that are designed and positioned to avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener. Arcuate rear side corners of the wrench cavity avoid contact with the rear side corners of the fastener, and avoids stress concentration points. The throat that connects the corners has two gentle curves or flat surfaces leading to a central arc. This modified “U” design provide more metal in the throat of the wrench, which stiffens the jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Patent number: D476868
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Wright, Kenneth R. Milligan
  • Patent number: D909160
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Wright Tool Company
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Milligan, Terry G. Taylor